Abu Dhabi, 12th April 2009 (WAM) Mubadala Development Company (Mubadala) today announced that Sowwah Square, the flagship Grade A commercial development on Sowwah Island, is the first integrated development in Abu Dhabi to achieve LEED Core and Shell (LEED-CS) Gold pre-certification by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
LEED is the internationally recognized US benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings. The award recognizes Mubadalas declared environmentally sustainable goals and intentions of the Sowwah Square design, which achieved points across all categories of LEED-CS criteria including site sustainability, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation and design process. John Thomas, Executive Director of Mubadala Real Estate & Hospitality, comments, "The achievement of LEED Gold pre-certification for Core and Shell is an important milestone in the develo pment of Sowwah Square and is the culmination of a rigorous and collaborative planning and design process. This serves to acknowledge our commitment to exceptional build quality, and consideration for ensuring measurable environmental benefits in all projects in which we are involved. ''Such recognition enables the future tenants of Sowwah Square to place further confidence in the operational efficiencies of this development, and reinforces the sense of pride that has been evident since this milestone project began."Sowwah Square is a Mubadala project being managed by John Buck International, a Mubadala joint venture company that specializes in environmentally sustainable, premium grade commercial real estate development. Sowwah Square will feature the new headquarters of the Abu Dhabi Stock Exchange and is part of the first phase of the development of the 105 hectare Sowwah Island, the core of Abu Dhabis new Central Business District (CBD) as outlined by the Urban Planning Councils Plan Abu Dhabi 2030. On completion, Sowwah Square will set the benchmark for efficiency and quality of commercial accommodation available in Abu Dhabi. This recognition is an example of Mubadala and John Buck Internationals ambition to meet internationally accepted sustainability standards (LEED).Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2009.
